Growth in tall fescue pastures can be accumulated for later harvest as silage or hay, but not during the year of establishment, as this will reduce tiller numbers entering summer and reduce the reliability of autumn recovery. In warm to hot climates, hay or silage harvests should be done only in early spring, not after November, to avoid high temperatures after harvest and to ensure adequate soil N and rainfall levels for regrowth. Crops should be cut before head emergence to minimize pasture stand thinning and ensure high nutritive value of the harvested forage. Best recovery from silage or hay production will occur when soil moisture and N levels are adequate and when soil temperatures are moderate, 6 to 12°C at 10-cm depth.

 

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